Kent Life

For a wonderful day out that all the family will enjoy visit Kent Life, near Maidstone. Heritage and family fun sit side by side in the beautiful and historical 28 acre grounds, home to Britain’s last working coal-fired Oast House and a range of period-dressed historic buildings.

In the Vintage Village you can see the Second World War cottages from nearby Lenham, which display the typical home of a wartime housewife. Look out for ghosts in Petts Farmhouse, also restored to its Victorian splendour.

There is so much to explore in the collection of original buildings, with the Village Hall relocated from Ulcombe, the Granary, the Oast House, traditional Hoppers’ Huts, and the working blacksmith’s forge. A nostalgic trip down memory lane, for both old and young alike.

There are also beautiful Kentish gardens to stroll through. See the ornamental herb garden with its array of herbs with varying uses; from aromatic herbs used for pot-pourri and perfumes, through to dye plants used to colour wool and fabric. Stretch your legs in the apple orchards, or simply explore the two farmhouse gardens, with a pig sty at the bottom! You can also see the hop garden and learn about the traditions of hop picking.

Kent Life is a real working farm and it showcases and breeds traditional farm animals such as sheep, cattle, pigs, horses, donkeys, goats, poultry, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, ducks and geese. All the lovely animals are housed in historic outhouse barns!

The farmyard friends area provides the opportunity to get up close and personal to some of the smaller animals and it is always popular with younger visitors!  The daily itinerary of activities changes with the seasons.

At Easter, there’s bottle feeding demonstrations; there’s use of the play beach and paddle boats in the summer; hop picking in the autumn, or going for a ride on Santa’s sleigh in the winter! Children can enjoy indoor and outdoor play areas, the paint-a-pot studio, fun farm rides and much more.

Don’t forget to relax with a homemade cake in Dotty’s tea room.  Events and activities run all year round, especially during holidays and weekends.

For further details and to book your places, please visit their website below.

https://kentlife.org.uk/